Sunday, September 16, 2012

10 Ways to Recruit Volunteers

 
There are many different ways to promote your volunteer service to recruit volunteers.  Here are just some ways.  I’m sure that you can think of more.  Be creative and come up with some more ideas and feel free to comment or email me at wamoore@optusnet.com.au.
 
 
 
 
1.     Website – Have a page dedicated to Volunteer Services on your organisation’s website.  This shows that your organisation values volunteers.  It is also a great place to outline the sort of tasks that your volunteers do, your office hours and how prospective applicants can contact someone for further information.
 
2.     Promotional Banner – Shamelessly self promote!  Have a free-standing, portable advertising banner promoting volunteers.  The banner can be on display in your organisation’s foyer or it can be taken to meetings and conferences both within and outside your organisation.
 
3.     Volunteer Expos – Universities often have volunteer expos where different organisations, who engage volunteers, can showcase their volunteer programs by holding a stand.  It is a great opportunity to promote volunteering at your organisation to university students who may have some free time and are looking for opportunities to gain experience, through volunteering, in their chosen field of study.
 
4.     Internal staff meetings – addressing staff or management meetings within your organisation is a great way to promote volunteers.  Sometimes staff are unsure of the role volunteers play within the organisation and so this is an ideal opportunity to dispel myths and explain how volunteers can assist.  When staff appreciate and understand the role of volunteers, they are often motivated to tell their family and friends about volunteering for the organisation. 
 
5.     Information Desks  – An information desk is an obvious place to go to when wanting to find out information about anything within the organisation, including volunteering.  It is a good idea to have volunteer application packs available at the Information Desks.  An application pack should have a brochure about Volunteer Services at your organisation.  It should also contain an application form and a covering letter, thanking the applicant for their interest in volunteering with your organisation.
 
6.    Word of Mouth – One of the best ways of promoting your volunteer service is through your own volunteers.  If your volunteers have a satisfactory volunteering experience they will naturally want to tell their friends and family of their positive volunteering experience and encourage others to join them volunteering with your organisation.
 
7.     Volunteering Queensland website - This website has a database of many different organisations who engage volunteers and lists volunteering vacancies available within these organisations.Volunteering Queensland Website
 
8.     University Student Services offices – Student Services offices will often have noticeboards or webpages where information is provided to students seeking opportunities to volunteer.
 
9.     Community groups – Sometimes a volunteer, staff member or acquaintance will know about you and your volunteer program and invite you to be a guest speaker at a community group.  This is a great opportunity to promote volunteering at your organisation.  Be prepared with brochures and application forms as you may be inundated with people who are interested in volunteering after you have given your inspiring speech.
 
10.  Talk to anyone and everyone – If when you are out and about on the weekend or at a school function or some other social occasion and the topic of conversation turns to what you do – don’t just say “I’m a volunteer manager or I’m a volunteer coordinator”.  Follow it up by telling them enthusiastically about your amazing volunteer program and how great your volunteers are.  A passionate belief in your volunteer program and your volunteers is a great testimony for volunteering with your organisation.  People will see your genuineness and enthusiasm. 
 
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post.
 
 

International Volunteer Managers Day 2013

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